Mental health battles never end, and neither do great stories.
We have heard it a million times when a story reflects a personal struggle. For films, we have seen some characters that seemingly came to life because of the struggle that was reflected. I started reflecting on everything this week while writing a script.
After some meditation from a day working my 9-5 at my day job, it was clear to me that much of the same was happening. My writing style has always been centered around personal development in extraordinary situations. While an individual may not go through the exact struggles of the character, there’s still some elements in terms of the character’s reaction that is highly relatable.
Sure, the likelihood of a person fighting a zombie is slim to none, but people can look at it and say: “This is how I would feel”. This element is crucial because it connects the individual to the story, not only that, but it has also connected me to the story.
One of the more pivotal parts that has reflected my life is fear and control. I am not talking just in the traditional sense where a figure or idea has a vice grip on your life, but also how your mind and how everyone’s mental well-being can have that control.
One thing I noticed about myself is that I would push myself to the limit and it absolutely drove my boss crazy. It was to the point where I have received emails and memo reminders to take days off (no I am not exaggerating). I would push myself to the point of exhaustion and it would be to the point that I would fall right in bed and not even eat dinner sometimes because I would be too tired to do it.
The girlfriend even noticed that and there would be times she would have to remind me to eat and take care of myself since I am so focused. It’s a mix of being a perfectionist and almost punishing myself in a way when I feel like things aren’t going right. I have dealt with a lot where I would feel like I am less than worth it because I haven’t achieved milestones.
It’s a chain effect because so many feel like film writers should be successful and dining with Beyonce while being next door neighbors with Tom Brady. Even when you feel like that you have tuned it out, it’s still in the back of the mind in some shape or form, and it trickled over to my 9-5-day job.
The curiosity carried over to how much of my character’s I have created go through the same thing I am going through. I am not talking just elements, but if they stood face-to-face with me, they would be able to say the words “I am going through the same thing”, it was to the point that whether it was a zombie story or a crime drama, there was a degree of mental health problems while I continue my story in life, there is a story happening in this other world.
In my zombie story, a character worked themselves to the point of exhaustion after going nonstop against a herd of zombies after feeling like they had to do it. Their reasoning is that they are looking for that same self-fulfillment where they feel like they are doing all they can to not just survive but protect everyone they love. This person started overthinking to the point they became reckless in the story. Well, you will just have to wait in the future to see how that story all unfolds, you will never believe what happens next.
It all sounded so familiar to me, and I realized what was happening as I reflected on myself. It also showed me how important mental health can be and after interventions from the boss at the day job and a revelation after looking at my work. It’s hard when you feel like you aren’t enough in life, but all we can do is just try every day and with the people in our lives and self-reflection, it helps us as we continue our journey.
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